Fuel injector with a center body assembly

Abstract

A center body assembly for a lean direct injection fuel injector is disclosed. The center body assembly defines a primary liquid passage, a liquid gallery, a liquid main first passage, a liquid main second passage, and an atomizer assembly. The primary liquid passage supplies liquid fuel to the liquid gallery. The liquid gallery aligns with the primary liquid passage and distributes fuel to the liquid main first passage, and subsequently to the liquid main second passage. The atomizer assembly is in flow communication with the liquid main second passage and provides atomized fuel for combustion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A center body assembly for a lean direct injection fuel injector of a gas turbine engine, the center body assembly comprising:
 a center body including
 an assembly axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the center body assembly, 
 a base end, 
 a liquid main end distal to the base end, 
 a middle portion extending from the base end to the liquid main end, 
 a liquid tube port extending into the base end, 
 a liquid main port extending into the liquid main end, the liquid main port being concentric to the liquid main end, the liquid main port including a liquid main port surface that is a bottom surface of the liquid main port, and 
 a primary liquid passage extending from the liquid tube port to the liquid main port and in flow communication with the liquid tube port; 
 
 a liquid main assembly including
 a liquid main base located in the liquid main port and abutting the liquid main port surface, 
 a liquid main base flange that extends from the liquid main base towards the base end and adjacent the liquid main port for joining the liquid main assembly to the center body, 
 a liquid main body adjacent the liquid main base, 
 a liquid gallery comprising a channel located in the liquid main base, extending around the liquid main base, abutting the liquid main port surface, and adjacent and in flow communication with the primary liquid passage, 
 a liquid main first passage in flow communication with the liquid gallery, 
 a liquid main second passage in flow communication with the liquid main first passage, and 
 an atomizer assembly in flow communication with the liquid main second passage; 
 
 a pilot gas port; 
 an aft pilot bore extending into the middle portion from the base end; 
 a forward pilot bore extending into the middle portion from the liquid main port; 
 an inner flange extending inward from the middle portion between the aft pilot bore and the forward pilot bore; 
 a pilot gas inlet extending from the pilot gas port to the aft pilot bore; and
 pilot air inlets extending through the middle portion to the forward pilot bore. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The center body assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid main assembly includes a liquid main bore that is in flow communication with the forward pilot bore. 
     
     
       3. The center body assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid gallery tapers from adjacent the primary liquid passage to a smaller cross-sectional area as the liquid gallery extends further from the primary liquid passage. 
     
     
       4. The center body assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid main assembly includes additional atomizer assemblies. 
     
     
       5. The center body assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer assembly angles away from the assembly axis. 
     
     
       6. The center body assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid main assembly includes a liquid main body face that is not perpendicular to the assembly axis. 
     
     
       7. A lean direct injection fuel injector for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector comprising:
 a flange assembly, 
 a tube stem extending through the flange assembly, the tube stem defining a main liquid tube cavity extending through the tube stem, 
 an injector body, 
 an inner premix tube joined to the injector body, 
 a center body joined to the tube stem at a base end and located within the inner premix tube, the center body defining
 a liquid tube port extending into the base end of the center body, 
 a liquid main port extending into a liquid main end of the center body, and 
 a primary liquid passage extending from the liquid tube port to the liquid main port and in flow communication with the liquid tube port; 
 
 an assembly axis extending in a direction a longitudinal to the center body, 
 a liquid main assembly joined to the center body at the liquid main port, the liquid main defining
 a liquid gallery comprising a channel located in the liquid main base, extending around the liquid main base, and abutting the liquid main port surface, adjacent and in flow communication with the primary liquid passage, 
 a liquid main first passage in flow communication with the liquid gallery, 
 a liquid main second passage in flow communication with the liquid main first passage, and 
 an atomizer assembly in flow communication with the liquid main second passage and the atomizer assembly protrudes through an atomizer opening in the inner premix tube. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The lean direct injection fuel injector of  claim 7 , further comprising a main liquid tube extending through the main liquid tube cavity to the liquid tube port. 
     
     
       9. The lean direct injection fuel injector of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid main assembly includes a liquid main flange extending outward from the liquid main body to locate the liquid main assembly relative to the inner premix tube. 
     
     
       10. The lean direct injection fuel injector of  claim 7 , wherein the inner premix tube includes a tip face which angles away from a radial axis perpendicular to the assembly axis. 
     
     
       11. The lean direct injection fuel injector of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid gallery tapers from adjacent the primary liquid passage to a smaller cross-sectional area as the liquid gallery extends further from the primary liquid passage. 
     
     
       12. The lean direct injection fuel injector of  claim 7 , wherein the center body includes a stem connector distal to the liquid main port for joining the center body to the tube stem. 
     
     
       13. The fuel injector of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an aft pilot bore formed in the center body adjacent the base end, 
 a forward pilot bore formed in the center body adjacent the liquid main port, 
 an inner flange extending inward from the center body between the aft pilot bore and the forward pilot bore, 
 a pilot gas port formed in the base end for receiving pilot gas fuel from a pilot gas passage, 
 a pilot gas inlet formed in the base end and extending from the pilot gas port to the aft pilot bore, and 
 pilot air inlets formed in the center body and extending through the center body to the forward pilot bore for providing compressor discharge air into the center body assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. A center body assembly for a lean direct injection fuel injector of a gas turbine engine, the center body assembly comprising:
 a center body including
 a base end, 
 a liquid main end distal to the base end, 
 a middle portion extending from the base end to the liquid main end, 
 a liquid tube port extending into the base end, 
 a liquid main port extending into the liquid main end, the liquid main port being concentric to the liquid main end, the liquid main port including a liquid main port surface that is a bottom surface of the liquid main port, and 
 a primary liquid passage extending from the liquid tube port to the liquid main port and in flow communication with the liquid tube port; and 
 
 a liquid main assembly including
 a liquid main base located in the liquid main port and abutting the liquid main port surface, 
 a liquid main base flange that extends from the liquid main base towards the base end and adjacent the liquid main port for joining the liquid main assembly to the center body, 
 a liquid main body adjacent the liquid main base, 
 a liquid gallery comprising a channel located in the liquid main base, extending around the liquid main base, and abutting the liquid main port surface, adjacent and in flow communication with the primary liquid passage, wherein the liquid gallery tapers from adjacent the primary liquid passage to a smaller cross-sectional area as the liquid gallery extends further from the primary liquid passage, 
 a liquid main first passage in flow communication with the liquid gallery, 
 a liquid main second passage in flow communication with the liquid main first passage, and 
 atomizer assembly means in flow communication with the liquid main second passage for atomizing main liquid fuel for combustion; and 
 
 pilot assembly means for directing pilot gas fuel through the center body for combustion. 
 
     
     
       15. The center body assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pilot assembly means further comprises
 a pilot gas port, 
 an aft pilot bore extending into the middle portion from the base, 
 a pilot gas inlet extending from the pilot gas port to the aft pilot, 
 a forward pilot bore extending into the middle portion from the liquid main port, 
 a pilot tube bore extending from the aft pilot bore to the forward pilot bore, and 
 pilot air inlets extending through the middle portion to the forward pilot bore. 
 
     
     
       16. The center body assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid main assembly includes a liquid main bore that allows a mixture of compressor discharge air and the pilot gas fuel through the center body assembly. 
     
     
       17. The center body assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the atomizer assembly means includes a plurality of atomizer assemblies.